Maclauchlin scores in OT to lift Leesville Road boys soccer over Sanderson

Leesville Road senior defender Mason MacLauchlin scored in the 98th minute to give the Pride a narrow 2-1 victory over visiting Sanderson Wednesday night.

Leesville Road (11-6-1) had control for much of the first half, but Sanderson (11-4-1) started to turn momentum late.

In the 30th minute, following a throw in from the corner, a scrum ensued in front of the Leesville Road goal. The ball fell to Sanderson senior defenseman Matthew Melendez, who put the ball in the back of the net from point-blank range to take a 1-0 lead.

The second half was much more physical with three separate yellow cards being handed out in the opening few minutes.

The Pride was able to move the ball down the field, but only in short bursts and on counterattacks. It was one of these counterattacks that gave the Pride the equalizing goal.

In the 79th minute, senior defender Wesley Dunn stole the ball around midfield and made a streaking run down the center of the field past two Sanderson defenders. Dunn then delivered a strike from just outside of the box that went through the outstretched hands of Sanderson goalkeeper Dalton Tippette and into the back of the net.

Both teams had scoring chances in the final minutes, the closest being a shot by Sanderson midfielder Scott Spickard that deflected off the upper post of the goal.

Neither team was successful in capitalizing on scoring chances in the first half of overtime. But with just two minutes left in the second half of OT, Leesville pulled through.

After a cross into the Sanderson box, the ball was batted around in front of goal before MacLauchlin put it through to give the Pride the decisive goal.

This story was originally published October 13, 2016 at 3:15 AM with the headline "Maclauchlin scores in OT to lift Leesville Road boys soccer over Sanderson."